Acoustic emission sensor holder

A holder for attaching an acoustic emission sensor to a non-metallic and non-magnetic material, the holder comprising:

• a cage having a tubular body with a closed top end and an open bottom end through which the sensor is insertable into the tubular body, the closed top end of the tubular body having a plurality of unitary flexible flaps angularly extending inwardly from an inner surface of the closed top end, and an inner surface of the tubular body having a plurality of spacers extending radially inward proximate the open bottom end of the tubular body, the unitary flexible flaps and the spacers fixing the sensor within the tubular body, the tubular body of the cage having a plurality of capture tabs extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the tubular body proximate the open bottom end;
• and
• a retainer bracket having a lower surface for attachment to the non-metallic and non-magnetic material, a top capture surface and an engagement keyway disposed between the lower surface and the capture surface;
• the plurality of capture tabs of the cage slidably engagable with the engagement keyway in the retainer bracket in a rotary motion providing a removable locking engagement.

A method for affixing an acoustic emission sensor to a non-metallic and non-magnetic material comprising the steps of:

• separating a holder for the acoustic emission sensor from a plurality of holders retained together at a frange periphery around each of the holders, the holder comprising:
• a cage having a tubular body with a closed top end and an open bottom end through which the sensor is insertable into the tubular body, the closed top end of the tubular body having a plurality of unitary flexible flaps angularly extending inwardly from an inner surface of the closed top end, and an inner surface of the tubular body having a plurality of spacers extending radially inward proximate the open bottom end of the tubular body, the unitary flexible flaps and the spacers fixing the sensor within the tubular body, the tubular body of the cage having a plurality of capture tabs extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the tubular body proximate the open bottom end;
• and a retainer bracket having a lower surface for attachment to the non-metallic and non-magnetic material, a top capture surface and an engagement keyway disposed between the lower surface and the capture surface;
• the plurality of capture tabs of the cage slidably engagable with the engagement keyway in the retainer bracket in a rotary motion providing a removable locking engagement;
• affixing the retainer bracket of the holder to the non-metallic and non-magnetic material;
• removing the cage from the retainer bracket by rotating the cage out of the engagement keyway;
• inserting the acoustic emission sensor into the tubular body of the cage;
• and
• installing the cage on the retainer bracket by rotating the cage into the engagement keyway.